Compassionate Activism

With Ven Robina Courtin: February 2020

It’s a commonly held misconception that spiritual practice and activism conflict. In fact, the logical consequence of successful practice is action for the sake of others; it just naturally follows. A bird needs two wings, Buddha says: wisdom and compassion.

The wisdom wing is the work we do on our own minds, the realization of our own suffering and its causes — karma and delusions — and living a life of discipline, self-awareness, and accountability. This brings contentment, confidence, and compassion, because now we realise we’re all in the same boat, we’re all suffering. Our actions, our activism — helping our next-door neighbour or helping stop the destruction of the planet — is now grounded in wisdom.

This brings optimism and confidence that every small action counts and the courage to never give up, no matter how difficult it is.

About Ven Robina

Ordained since the late 1970s, Ven. Robina has worked full time since then for Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s FPMT. Over the years she has served as editorial director of Wisdom Publications, editor of Mandala Magazine, executive director of Liberation Prison Project, and as a touring teacher of Buddhism. Her life and work with prisoners have been featured in the documentary films Chasing Buddha and Key to Freedom.

If you have a good internet connection you can listen to them here by pressing the play symbol next to the teaching or you can download them to listen offline. To download a recording, RIGHT CLICK over the download button to right hand side of the recording and choose ‘download linked file’. The download should then begin.

A Way to Say Thank You

Please use the form below if you would like to make an offering to Land of Joy as a thank you for making these recordings available. Any offering will be a big help and very gratefully received as the unexpected closure of the centre is having a big impact of our finances. However, we very much appreciate many people are experiencing economical and financial challenges during these unpredictable times and therefore might not be able to support us at the moment.

Thank you and may you be entirely happy.

£ Donation Amount:

Select Payment Method

Credit/Debit Card
PayPal
Online Bank Transfer/Postal Cheque

I'd like to cover the transaction fees of 0 for my donation.

Personal Info

Title

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address *

Comment

Credit Card Info

This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.

Card Number *

CVC *

Cardholder Name *

Expiration *

Reclaim Gift Aid

Boost your donations by 25% at no cost to you! A Gift Aid declaration allows us to claim tax back on eligible donations. It means that for every £1 you donate to we can claim back 25p, at no extra cost to you.

Tell me more »

Yes, I am a UK taxpayer and I would like Land of Joy to reclaim the tax on all qualifying donations I have made, as well as any future donations, until I notify them otherwise.

By ticking the "Yes" box, I confirm I understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year I may be asked to pay any difference. I understand that Land of Joy will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give.

What is Gift Aid?

Gift Aid does not cost you a penny more, but can add an additional 25p to every £1 you donate. When we receive a donation from a UK taxpayer, we're entitled to claim an amount of tax (calculated at the basic rate of income tax in that year) paid on that donation. Once you have given your permission for us to do this on your behalf, there is no need for you to do anything else.

All that is required is that you must be a taxpayer and that would have paid or will pay sufficient Income and/or Capital Gains Tax to cover all the Gift Aid claimed on all your donations in that tax year. Please note that it is your responsibility to pay any difference.

The amount of tax we claim will be 25% of the total value of your donations in that tax year. Furthermore, if you are a higher taxpayer, you are also entitled to claim the difference between the basic rate which we will claim and the amount of tax you have actually paid. For further details on how you can do this, please contact your tax office. If your tax situation changes and your gifts will no longer be eligible for the Gift Aid scheme please contact us and we will amend your record accordingly.

Take me to my donation »

Gift Aid Address

Please use the billing details address
I'd like to use another address

Country *

Address 1 *

Address 2

City *

County *

Postal Code *

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive regular news and programme updates.

Donation Total: £20

Compassionate Activism

With Ven Robina Courtin: February 2020

It’s a commonly held misconception that spiritual practice and activism conflict. In fact, the logical consequence of successful practice is action for the sake of others; it just naturally follows. A bird needs two wings, Buddha says: wisdom and compassion.

This brings optimism and confidence that every small action counts and the courage to never give up, no matter how difficult it is.

About Ven Robina

Session One

Session Two

Session Three

Session Four

Session Five

Session Six

Session Seven

Session Eight

Session Nine

Session Ten

Session Eleven

Session Twelve

Session Thirteen

Session Fourteen

Session Fifteen

A Way to Say Thank You

Thank you and may you be entirely happy.

What is Gift Aid?